One embodiment of the present invention provides a shared window into which a remote user can input commands from a remote computer system subject to access control. The system operates by receiving a command from the remote user on the remote computer system, wherein the command is directed toward the local computer system in order to operate the local computer system. If the command passes a filtering process, the system executes the command to a local operating system so that the command can operate on the local computer system. The system also displays the command on the shared window on the local computer system so that a local user can view the command. The system additionally allows the command to be displayed on a remote copy of the shared window on the remote computer system, so that the remote user can view the command. In one embodiment of the present invention, if the shared window is in an approval mode, the filtering process involves allowing the local user to approve the command. If the local user approves the command, the system allows the command to pass the filtering process.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A computer implemented method for providing a shared window for entering commands into a local computer system, wherein the shared window can be shared with a remote user who can input data into the shared window from a remote computer system subject to access control, the method comprising: receiving a command from the remote user on the remote computer system at run time, wherein the command is in the form of an action applied to a graphical user interface; wherein the command is directed toward the local computer system in order to operate the local computer system; passing the command through a filtering process; if the command passes the filtering process, executing the command on the local computer system; displaying the command on the shared window on the local computer system so that a local user can view the command; allowing the command to be displayed on a remote copy of the shared window on the remote computer system, so that the remote user can view the command; allowing a user of the local computer system to edit and complete the command received from the remote user at run time; and if the user of the local computer completes the command, allowing the command to execute on the local computer system; otherwise, not allowing the command to execute on the local computer.
2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein if the shared window is in an approval mode, the filtering process involves: allowing the local user of the local computer system to approve the command; and if the local user approves the command, allowing the command to pass the filtering process.
3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising if the shared window is in a view-only mode, allowing no commands received from the remote user to pass the filtering process.
4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising if the shared window is in an execute mode, allowing all commands received from the remote user to pass the filtering process.
5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising if the shared window is in a safe command mode, allowing commands from a pre-specified list of safe commands to pass the filtering process.
6. The computer implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising, if the shared window is in a safe command mode and the command is not from the pre-specified list of safe commands: allowing the local user of the local computer system to approve the command; and if the local user approves the command, allowing the command to pass the filtering process.
7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein commands from different users appear in different colors on the shared window.
8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein allowing the command to be displayed on the remote copy of the shared window on the remote computer system involves sending an update for the shared window from the local computer system to the remote computer system, wherein the update includes the command.
9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a second command from a second remote user on a second remote computer system.
10. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the filtering process takes place on at least one of: the remote computer system; the local computer system; and a shared server that is separate from the remote computer system and the local computer system.
11. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the command is in the form of character input.
12. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for providing a shared window for entering commands into a local computer system, wherein the shared window can be shared with a remote user who can input data into the shared window from a remote computer system subject to access control, the method comprising: receiving a command from the remote user on the remote computer system at run time, wherein the command is in the form of an action applied to a graphical user interface; wherein the command is directed toward the local computer system in order to operate the local computer system; passing the command through a filtering process; if the command passes the filtering process, executing the command on the local computer system; displaying the command on the shared window on the local computer system so that a local user can view the command; allowing the command to be displayed on a remote copy of the shared window on the remote computer system, so that the remote user can view the command; allowing a user of the local computer system to edit and complete the command received from the remote user at run time; and if the user of the local computer completes the command, allowing the command to execute on the local computer system; otherwise, not allowing the command to execute on the local computer.
13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein if the shared window is in an approval mode, the filtering process involves: allowing the local user of the local computer system to approve the command; and if the local user approves the command, allowing the command to pass the filtering process.
14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein if the shared window is in a view-only mode, no commands received from the remote user are allowed to pass the filtering process.
15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein if the shared window is in an execute mode, all commands received from the remote user are allowed to pass the filtering process.
16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein if the shared window is in a safe command mode, commands from a pre-specified list of safe commands are allowed to pass the filtering process.
17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein if the shared window is in a safe command mode and the command is not from the pre-specified list of safe commands, the method further comprises: allowing the local user of the local computer system to approve the command; and if the local user approves the command, allowing the command to pass the filtering process.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein commands from different users appear in different colors on the shared window.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein allowing the command to be displayed on the remote copy of the shared window on the remote computer system involves sending an update for the shared window from the local computer system to the remote computer system, wherein the update includes the command.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises receiving a second command from a second remote user on a second remote computer system.
21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the filtering process takes place on at least one of: the remote computer system; the local computer system; and a shared server that is separate from the remote computer system and the local computer system.
22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the command is in the form of character input.
23. An apparatus that provides a shared window for entering commands into a local computer system, wherein the shared window can be shared with a remote user who can input data into the shared window from a remote computer system subject to access control, the apparatus comprising: a receiving mechanism that is configured to receive a command from the remote user on the remote computer system at run time, wherein the command is in the form of an action applied to a graphical user interface; wherein the command is directed toward the local computer system in order to operate the local computer system; a filtering mechanism that is configured to pass the command through a filtering process, and to execute the command on the local computer system if the command passes the filtering process; a display mechanism that is configured to display the command on the shared window on the local computer system so that a local user can view the command; wherein the display mechanism is configured to allow the command to be displayed on a remote copy of the shared window on the remote computer system, so that the remote user can view the command; wherein the filtering mechanism is further configured to allow a user of the local computer system to edit and complete the command received from the remote user at run time; wherein the filtering mechanism is further configured to allow the command to execute on the local computer system if the user of the local computer completes the command; and wherein the filtering mechanism is further configured to not allow the command to execute on the local computer system if the user of the local computer does not approve the command.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein if the shared window is in an approval mode, the filtering mechanism is configured to: allow the local user of the local computer system to approve the command; and to allow the command to pass the filtering process if the local user approves the command.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein if the shared window is in a view-only mode, no commands received from the remote user are allowed to pass the filtering process.
26. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein if the shared window is in an execute mode, all commands received from the remote user are allowed to pass the filtering process.
27. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein if the shared window is in a safe command mode, commands from a pre-specified list of safe commands are allowed to pass the filtering process.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein if the shared window is in a safe command mode and the command is not from the pre-specified list of safe commands, the filtering mechanism is configured to: allow the local user of the local computer system to approve the command; and allow the command to pass the filtering process if the local user approves the command.
29. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the display mechanism is configured to display commands from different users in different colors on the shared window.
30. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the display mechanism is configured to send an update for the shared window from the local computer system to the remote computer system, wherein the update includes the command.
31. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the receiving mechanism is configured to receive a second command from a second remote user on a second remote computer system.
32. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the filtering mechanism is located on at least one of: the remote computer system; the local computer system; and a shared server that is separate from the remote computer system and the local computer system.
33. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the command is in the form of character input.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 23, 2000
August 23, 2005
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